Seed drill with electric metering system

ABSTRACT

An agricultural planting implement is used to plant seed in a field. The implement includes an electrically-driven seed meter that is spaced on a toolbar of the implement. The seed meter, or other metering member, is a precision meter that is used to control the volume, spacing, and location of a seed that is delivered from a meter to the field. A seed source, such as a seed cart or hopper, is attached to the seed meters to provide an on-demand amount of seed to the meters for planting in the field.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation Application of U.S. Ser. No. 16/408,580, filedMay 10, 2019, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to provisionalapplication U.S. Ser. No. 62/670,083, filed May 11, 2018. The priorityapplications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety,including without limitation, the specification, claims, and abstract,as well as any figures, tables, appendices, or drawings thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to agricultural implements. Moreparticularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to the use ofone or more electronically controlled seed metering systems incombination with a seed drill to control the meter and dispensement rateof seed from the meter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A seed drill is a device that sows the seeds for crops by metering outthe individual seeds, positioning them in the soil, and covering them toa certain average depth. The seed drill sows the seeds at equaldistances and proper depth, ensuring that the seeds get covered withsoil and into moisture for a rooting environment, with the added benefitthat the seeds are saved from being eaten by birds. Before theintroduction of the seed drill, a common practice was to plant seeds byhand. Besides being wasteful, planting was usually imprecise and led toa poor distribution of seeds, leading to low productivity.

Seed drilling includes a plurality of spaced furrow openers to openfurrows in the field. The openers operate to maintain planting at adesired depth. Closing wheels follow the openers and close the furrowonce seed is introduced. Seed drills are ideal for certain types ofseed, including, but not limited to, soybeans, canola, peas, legumes,corn, wheat, barley, etc.

Traditionally, a seed drill used to consist of a hopper filled withseeds arranged above a series of tubes that can be set at selecteddistances from each other to allow optimum growth of the resultingplants. Seeds are spaced out using fluted paddles which rotate using ageared drive from one of the drill's land wheels—seed rate is altered bychanging gear ratios. Most modern drills use air to convey seed inplastic tubes from the seed hopper to the coulters. The seed is meteredmechanically into an air stream created by a hydraulically poweredon-board fan and conveyed initially to a distribution head whichsub-divides the seed into the pipes taking the seed to the individualcoulters.

However, the mechanical metering and use of air in the manner oftraditional seed drilling has faults. For example, it is difficult tocontrol the population of seeds being planted at each furrow. Theinconsistency can be increased by the inability to control the flow ateach furrow location. The amount of seeds dispersed per second (see,e.g., FIG. 4), at each furrow location, can vary by as much as 40% overtime. Therefore, there is no row to row population consistency.Furthermore, as the system is essentially an on/off system that uses airto move the seed through the system and to the furrow, geographicalfeatures of fields can further increase the inefficiencies. Hills,turns, and the like, can cause even greater variance in the applicationof seed.

Still further, as the drills utilize air, it is difficult if notimpossible to monitor the application of the seeds, such as by sensors.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved seed drill thatprovides for controlled delivery of seed to a furrow, and also for a wayto monitor the amount of seed being delivered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is a principal object, feature, and/or advantage of thedisclosed features to overcome the deficiencies in the art.

It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention toprovide consistent population control across rows of a plantingapparatus.

It is yet another object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention tomitigate effect on planting population due to changing elevation, e.g.,hills.

It is still another object, feature, and/or advantage of the inventionto provide swath control for a planting apparatus.

It is a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention toprovide singulation of seed and/or to replace volumetric dispensing ofseed from a metering member.

It is yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the inventionto include seed sensing for the metering of seeds in a seed drill.

It is still a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the inventionto include turning compensation control for seed meters of a seed drillapparatus.

It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention toprovide more consistent and even seed distribution on a row-by-row basisof an implement including row units comprising seed drills.

These and/or other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosurewill be apparent to those skilled in the art. The present invention isnot to be limited to or by these objects, features and advantages. Nosingle embodiment need provide each and every object, feature, oradvantage.

It is still yet a further object, feature, or advantage of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus that is cost effective.

It is still yet a further object, feature, or advantage of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus that is reliable and durable and has along usable life.

It is still yet a further object, feature, or advantage of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus which is easily used and reused.

It is still yet a further object, feature, or advantage of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus that is easily manufactured, assembled(installed), disassembled (uninstalled), repaired, replaced, stored,transported, and cleaned.

It is still yet a further object, feature, or advantage of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus that is aesthetically pleasing.

It is still yet a further object, feature, or advantage of the presentinvention to incorporate an apparatus into a system accomplishing someor all of the previously stated objectives.

These or other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reviewingthe following detailed description of the illustrated embodiments,accompanied by the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of an exemplary planting system that incorporatesaspects of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of an exemplary row unit including aspects of theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of an exemplary metering member according toaspects of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing variance of seeding population based uponprior art systems, methods, and/or apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing exemplary data of seeding population varianceover time according to systems, methods, and/or apparatus incorporatingthe invention of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an exemplary brush meter style seed meter.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of an exemplary vacuum seed meter.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an exemplary positive pressure seed meter.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an exemplary finger meter style seed meter.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure illustrate several ways inwhich the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments will bedescribed in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein likereference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views.Reference to specific embodiments does not limit the scope of thepresent disclosure and the drawings represented herein are presented forexemplary purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following definitions and introductory matters are provided tofacilitate an understanding of the present invention. Unless definedotherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the samemeaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art towhich embodiments of the present invention pertain.

The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless contextclearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word “or” is intended toinclude “and” unless context clearly indicate otherwise. The word “or”means any one member of a particular list and also includes anycombination of members of that list.

The terms “invention” or “present invention” as used herein are notintended to refer to any single embodiment of the particular inventionbut encompass all possible embodiments as described in the specificationand the claims.

The term “about” as used herein refers to variation in the numericalquantities that can occur, for example, through typical measuringtechniques and equipment, with respect to any quantifiable variable,including, but not limited to, mass, volume, time, distance, wavelength, frequency, voltage, current, and electromagnetic field. Further,given solid and liquid handling procedures used in the real world, thereis certain inadvertent error and variation that is likely throughdifferences in the manufacture, source, or purity of the ingredientsused to make the compositions or carry out the methods and the like. Theclaims include equivalents to the quantities whether or not modified bythe term “about.”

The term “configured” describes an apparatus, system, or other structurethat is constructed to perform or capable of performing a particulartask or to adopt a particular configuration. The term “configured” canbe used interchangeably with other similar phrases such as constructed,arranged, adapted, manufactured, and the like.

Terms such as first, second, vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, upper,lower, front, rear, end, sides, concave, convex, and the like, arereferenced according to the views presented. These terms are used onlyfor purposes of description and are not limiting unless these terms areexpressly included in the claims. Orientation of an object or acombination of objects may change without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

The apparatuses, systems, and methods of the present invention maycomprise, consist essentially of, or consist of the components of thepresent invention described herein. The term “consisting essentially of”means that the apparatuses, systems, and methods may include additionalcomponents or steps, but only if the additional components or steps donot materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimedapparatuses, systems, and methods.

The following embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enablethose skilled in the art to practice the invention however otherembodiments may be utilized. Mechanical, procedural, and other changesmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined only bythe appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to whichsuch claims are entitled.

The present invention is related generally to the field of plantingseed. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in seeddrills, which may also be referred to as air seed drills. As is known,air seed drills are used to plant certain types of seed in whichpopulation is desirable. The population control may be desirable forsuch seeds including, but not limited to, soybeans, canola, peas,legumes, wheat, barley, and the like. Additional types of seeds whichare to be planted utilizing seed drills are to be included as part ofthe present disclosure. Because these types of seeds are generallyplanted on a population basis, the control of said population has beenless than desirable. This variation may be caused by the inability tometer and/or monitor the amount of seed being dispensed at row units ofa seed drill planter. Therefore, the invention includes aspects whichare aimed to improve the population control of a seed drill for plantingsaid seed.

Therefore, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary planting system 10. Components ofthe exemplary planting system 10 include a tractor 12, which may bereferred to generically as a tow vehicle. The tractor 12 is connected toan implement 14, which is the towed vehicle. The implement 14 maybe beconnected by a hitch or draft links 20. It should be contemplated andappreciated that the exact measure for attaching the tractor 12 to theimplement 14 may not be limiting to the present disclosure, andgenerally any manner of connecting and towing an implement 14 via a towvehicle is to be appreciated and considered part of the presentdisclosure. The implement 14 is shown to be a seed drill in FIG. 1.However, as will be understood, aspects of the invention can be utilizedwith generally any type of implement. This can include seed drills withfirst and second tool bars 16, 18, traditional planting tool bars, suchas that shown and described in this U.S. Pat. No. 9,282,692, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, and also could becombined with other types of implements which may be non-traditionalplanting implements. For example, tillage equipment includes componentswhich are used to till a field. This can include a number of disks,blades, or other tilling equipment. However, the tillage implements willstill include tool bars from which the tillage components are attached.Therefore, as will be understood, the row units as described herein canbe utilized and positioned on the tool bars of a tillage equipment toprovide cover crop or other particles to a ground as the tillageimplements is tilling the ground. Still further, it is to becontemplated that the row units and metering members of the presentdisclosure can be used with spraying or other fertilizer applyingimplements to provide additional seed or cover crops during theapplication of the fertilizer or other materials to the field.

However, as shown in FIG. 1, the implement 14 is a seed drill implementwhich includes a first tool bar 16 and a second tool bar 18. The firsttool bar is positioned forward of the second tool bar 18. Positionedalong each of the tool bars 16, 18 are a number of row units 22, whichcan include an opener 24 and a metering member 26. The openers create afurrow in the ground and the metering members are used to meter seed todispense the seed from the row unit into the created furrow. A closingwheel or other device will then follow the row units to close thefurrow, which is accomplishing the planting of the seed. As shown in thefigure, the row units of the first and second tool bar 16, 18 aregenerally staggered such that they will not overlap upon each other.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is a seed cart 28 which is a source of seed forproviding the row units with on-demand seed for planting. The seed cartof FIG. 1 as shown to be trailing the seed drill 14 and can be connectedto each of the row units, such as by hose or other conduit to supply anon demand amount of seed at the row units as the system 10 moves througha field. Thus, the seed cart 28 can include a hopper or other holdingapparatus 34 thereon. Furthermore, a hitch 30 can be utilized to connectthe seed cart to the tool bar. However, it should also be contemplatedand appreciated that a hopper, such as a bulk hopper be on the implement14 itself, and/or the row units each include individual row hoppers. Thehoppers on the tool bars and/or the row units will also be a seed sourceto supply an on-demand amount of seed to be planted by the row units. Aswill be understood, when a bulk hopper is used, even with the separateand trailing seed cart 28, an air seed delivery system, such as thatshown and described in the U.S. Pat. No. 8,448,585, which is herebyincorporated in this reference could be utilized to provide the seedfrom the seed source to each of the row units on said on demand basis.Such an air seed delivery system can be utilized and can be automated tocontinuously provide the seed at the row units as needed through thefield.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of a row unit for use with animplement according to aspects of the invention. As stated herein,traditional seed drills lack the ability to control population of seedbeing dispensed via the row units along the tool bars and on theimplement itself. Therefore, the row unit of FIG. 2 providesimprovements and novel aspects, which can provide for many advantagesfor seed drill planting. Such advantages can include, but are limitedto, consistent row-to-row population control, mitigation of effect onpopulation due to change in elevation, swath control, singulation ofcrops/seeds, row-by-row seed sensing and/or monitoring, turningcompensation, and/or row-by-row variable rate and consistent seeddelivery of the seed at each of the row units. As will be understood,the additional controls and monitoring of the components of the row unit40 shown in FIG. 2 will greatly reduce and/or eliminate waste ofmaterials, such as seed, and can also increase the yield potential ofthe planting apparatus.

Therefore, the row unit 40 shown in FIG. 2 includes components connectedto a tool bar 38. The tool bar 38, for example, may be either of thetool bars 16, 18, as shown in the implement 14 of FIG. 1. In addition,the tool bar 38 shown in FIG. 2 can also be a standard tool bar, such asused with a traditional corn planter which utilizes higher levels ofsingulation and precision planting, as is known. Connected to the toolbar 38 is a linkage 42 which includes upper and lower linkage arms toallow for some movements of the row unit 40 relative to the tool bar 38.This allows for movement based on changes of elevation, includingobstructions, as the row unit and implement moves through the field. Aframe connects the linkage to the rest of the row unit components. Forexample, a seed meter 44 is included on each of the row units. The seedmeter includes seed meter housing 46, which can include a meteringmember 48. The meter member is generally a device, such as a seed disk,which is rotatable within the meter housing 46 and which will meter theseed supplied to the meter housing 44 and singulate the seed attached orotherwise associated with the metering number to a location wherein theseed is released from the metering member towards the furrow. As will beunderstood, such examples of metering members include, but are notlimited to brush meters, vacuum meters, positive pressure meters,mechanical meters, finger meters, and/or generally any combination whileother type of meter member associated with finding seeds. Seed can besupplied to the meter housing 46, such as that shown in FIG. 2, by ahose 62 which may be part of the air seed delivery system as previouslydisclosed. The seed can accumulate at a seed pool and/or reservoir ofthe meter housing 44 where it will be picked up or otherwise associatedwith the metering member 48 thereof. The metering member can then rotateto singulate the seed associated with the metering member and take to alocation where it will release the seed towards the furrow. Such alocation may be at or near a seed chute 52 which is a neck like memberwhich extends at least partially downward from the meter housing 44. Theseed chute can direct the seed released from the meter member towardsand/or into a seed tube 53 which is a gravity type member to direct seedtowards a furrow created in the ground. The furrow can be created by anopener 60 and/or a seed chute 58. For example, the opener 60 couldinclude one or more opening disks to create a furrow in the ground, orcould comprise a seed shoe 58 which is used to create a furrow in theground. The seed tube 53 will be associated and positioned generallyadjacent the opening mechanisms such that seed passing through and outof the seed tube 53 will be positioned in the furrow. After the seed islocated in the furrow, a closing mechanism 61, such as a closing wheel,will be used to enclose the furrow about the seed that has beenpositioned therein.

Additional aspects of the row unit include the use of an electric motor54 for operating the metering member 48 within the seed meter housing46. The electric motor can be operably connected, such as connected in amanner shown in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,282,692, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. However, the manner ofoperation of the electric motor and the metering member should not belimited to that which is disclosed in the '692 patent. The electriccontrol of the metering member will provide numerous advantages, whichcan include, but are not limited to, the ability to control the amount,i.e., the population of seed being planted via the meter 44. This can becontrolled by mechanisms such as the rotation of velocity of themetering member in the meter 44. The use of different seed disks withhaving different seed cells and/or pockets can also aid in controllingthe population of seed being dispensed by the seed meter 44 of aparticular row unit 40. Still further, as each meter 44 of each row unit40 on an implement is electrically controlled, this will allow forindividual control of the population being planted at each location of arow unit. For example, there may be instances where certain locations ona field need to be planted, wherein said locations are associated with aparticular row unit. However, locations of additional row units may notbe desirable for planting, for any number of reasons. The use of theelectrically controlled meter with the seed drill planting system willallow for the selective planting at each location, which will aid insaving the seed, which eliminates waste, and which increases yieldpotential throughout the field. This also is beneficial with regard toturning compensation, wherein an implement is turning and row units andthus seed meters at an outer location of the turn radius or arc willneed to be operating at a higher disk rotational speed than that of rowunits and seed meters at an inner position with regard to arc of theturn. The individual control of the electric motor will allow andprovide for such control, which again will control the amount of seedpopulation being planted by the seed drill.

Additional aspects of the row unit and seed meter include the use of oneor more sensors 56. As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor is shown on the seedchute 52 of the meter 44. Such a configuration is generally shown anddescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,843,281, which is co-owned and hereinincorporated are referenced in its entirety and for all purposes. Asdisclosed in the '281 patent, the sensor will aid in monitoring andproviding information and data related to the number of seeds passingthrough the seed chute 52. This will provide a more accurate reading toan operator of the planting system to control the operation of the meter44, such as by controlling the electrical motor 54 to either increase ordecrease in order to increase or decrease the population of seed beingdispensed therefrom and thus planted in a field.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a seed meter 44 and metering member 48according to aspects of the invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the meteringmember 48 may be a brushed type singulating meter 66. A brushed typesingulate seed meter includes a brush to singulate the amount of seedheld in pockets of a seed disk during rotation of the seed disk in orderto control the number and population of seed being dispensed via theseed chute 52 and towards a furrow. Therefore, the inclusion of anelectric motor 54 connected to the seed disk will aid in providingbetter control and more control to the amount and/or population of seedbeing dispensed, such as by controlling the rotational velocity of thedisk, which will increase or decrease the amount seed being dispensedtherefrom. FIG. 3 also shows the hose 62 for supplying seed to the meteras well as the center 56 being positioned generally at the seed chute 52to provide monitoring to the system for aid in controlling thepopulation of seed being dispensed therefrom. While the number ofadvantages of the improvements shown and described herein have beenclearly annumerated, FIGS. 4 and 5 provides drafts which even furthershow the benefits of using aspects of the invention as disclosed herein.For example, FIG. 4 is a graph showing the population variance based onthe seeds per second disbursement of a seed drill according to prior artstyle seed drills. As shown in the figure, over time, the seeds persecond can vary greatly and can be plus or minus approximately 40% of adesired amount. This can be caused by many issues, which can include butare not limited to the inability to precisely control and meter amountof seed, changes and field conditions and/or elevation of a field, andthe simplicity of traditional systems, which may include broadcast typeplanting in which the meters are generally either on or off regardlessof the location and desirability of planting population.

Moving to FIG. 5, a graph is shown in which the output of a plantingimplement utilizing the invention is typified. As shown in FIG. 5, whichis an exemplary graph, the seeds per second that is being dispensed fromthe meter on any particular row unit over time, includes minor to novariance. It is contemplated that the variance may be less than 5% of adesired amount of population of seed being planted over time. This canbe accomplished, in part at least, based on the inclusion of an electricdrive with a metering member that includes a singulating member thataids in controlling the amount of seed that is being dispensed from ameter at each of the row units of an implement. This control at such amicro level is a great improvement over the macro style of planting,which is been traditional with seed drills.

FIG. 6-9 are exemplary diagrams of types of meters which can be utilizedwith the electric drive for use with the invention on a row unit basisto provide for control of the seed population planting of seed drills.For example, FIG. 6 includes a depiction of a brush meter 66. The brushmeter 66 includes a seed disk 68 with seed pocket 70, an upper brush 72,a lower brush 74, a wear band 76, a singulator 50 (optional), and asensor 56. The upper brush 72 is utilized to singulate seed in the seedpocket 70 of the seed disk 68, as the disk rotates within the meterhousing. The lower brush 74 is utilized to maintain a seed pool withinthe meter housing. The electric motor connected to the seed disk 68 willaid in controlling the population of the seed being planted as theimplement moves through the field. The electric motor will also providefor independent control of each of the row units to provide forindependent control and independent population control along the lengthof a tool bar of an implement.

FIG. 7 is a metering member 48, which is an exemplary vacuum meter 78. Avacuum meter, such as that shown and described in U.S. Pat. No.9,282,692, can include a seed disk 80 with a plurality of seed cells 82.A vacuum source is connected to the meter housing to provide a pressuredinferential at the seed cells 82. A singulator 50 is included to controlthe number of seeds at the seed cells 82. A sensor 56 can be used tosense and monitor the population of seed being dispensed via the vacuummeter 78 and can provide for greater control thereof.

FIG. 8 is a metering member 48, which may be known as a positivepressure meter 86. The positive pressure meter 86 is also shown anddescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,282,692. Such a meter can include a seeddisk 88 with a plurality of seed cells 90. An air source can be utilizedto provide a positive pressure differential at the seed cells 92 holdseed thereat. A singulator 50 can be included to control the number ofseeds at the seed cells, and a sensor 56 can be used to monitor andcontrol the population of seed being dispensed from said meter.

FIG. 9 is yet another embodiment of a metering member 48 and is shown asa finger meter 94. The finger meter includes a finger wheel 96 with aplurality of radially spaced fingers 98. The fingers are used tomechanically hold a seed thereat until a location to which the fingersopen to release said seed. Therefore, the electric motor can control thepopulation of seed being dispensed thereof, such as by controlling howfast the seed is being released from the meters as the finger assemblyrotates in a meter housing.

Therefore, an electrically controlled seed meter at each row unit of aseed drill has been shown and described and will provide numerousadvantages over traditional seed drills. As has been stated, therotational meter speed can set the dispersion rate of each seed meter ateach of the row units. The use of a sensor, such as an optical sensorcan be used to measure the flow rate to measure the rate of population,which allows for monitoring the system. The advantages are numerous andcan include, but are not limited to, the consistent row-to-rowpopulation control of planting, the limitation of effect on populationdue to changes and field conditions including changes in elevation,swath control of planting, singulation of crops, which is not based onvolumetric singulation, row-by-row seed censoring at the opener, turningcompensation control, row-by-row variable rate population control ofplanting, consistent seed delivery, and even seed distribution in a row.As mentioned, these are but a few of the advantages of the system andare not to be limiting thereto.

Furthermore, it should be appreciated that, while certain exemplaryembodiments have been shown and described herein, there are not to belimiting to the invention. For example, while an air seed deliverysystem has been shown and described, it is to be also contemplated thatdaisy chaining of row units to receive seed from a seed source can beutilized to provide the on-demand seed required for planting utilizingthe seed metering and delivery system as shown and described herein.Additionally, while the turn seed drills have been utilized to describethe implements of the system, this is also not to be limiting. Theimplement can generally be any type of implement in which it may bedesirable to plant a seed or other crop. This can include traditionalplanters, tillage equipment, spraying equipment, and/or generally anyother type of implement that may include a mounting member for mountinga seed meter and row unit as shown and described herein. Additionally,while certain types of meters have been shown and described, it is to beappreciated that generally any type of electrically controllablemetering system to aid in the population control and dispensement ofseed therefrom can be utilized with the metering system and will be animprovement over that currently known. Other variations that are obviousto those skilled in the art are contemplated and considered to be partof the present disclosure.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present inventionaccomplishes at least all of the stated objectives. Additionaladvantages of such novel aspects of the present disclosure should bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art and any obvious variationto that described herein are shown in the figures of the presentdisclosure should be considered as part of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An agricultural implement, comprising: at leastone toolbar; a plurality of row units spaced along the at least onetoolbar, each of the plurality of row units comprising a seed drillmetering member, the metering member used to singulate and dispenseseed, and a seed sensor that monitors the movement of seeds dispensed bythe metering member; and a seed source, the seed source connected toeach of the row units to provide seed to the seed drill meteringmembers.
 2. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein the pluralityof row units are positioned adjacent tillage members that are spaced onthe at least one toolbar.
 3. The agricultural implement of claim 1,wherein the metering member comprises: a. a brush meter; b. a vacuummeter; c. a positive pressure meter; or d. a finger meter.
 4. Theagricultural implement of claim 3, wherein the brush meter comprises aseed disk with a plurality of seed pockets, an upper brush to singulateseed in the pocket, a lower brush, and a wear band.
 5. The agriculturalimplement of claim 3, wherein the vacuum meter comprises a seed diskwith a plurality of seed cells and a vacuum source to provide a pressuredifferential at the plurality of seed cells to at least temporarilyadhere seed thereto.
 6. The agricultural implement of claim 3, whereinthe positive pressure meter comprises a seed disk with a plurality ofseed cells and an air source to provide a pressure differential at theplurality of seed cells to at least temporarily adhere seed thereto. 7.The agricultural implement of claim 3, wherein the finger metercomprises a seed disk and a plurality of mechanically activated fingersattached thereto, wherein the fingers are used to temporarily hold seeduntil release via the seed chute.
 8. The agricultural implement of claim1, wherein the seed source comprises a seed cart.
 9. The agriculturalimplement of claim 8, wherein the seed cart is separate from theagricultural implement, but fluidly coupled to the plurality of rowunits.
 10. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein each of therow units further comprise a furrow opener for opening a furrow toreceive the dispensed seed, and a furrow closer to close the furrowafter the seed is positioned therein.
 11. The agricultural implement ofclaim 10, wherein each of the row units further comprise a seed tubeconnected to a seed chute of the metering member, wherein seed is passedfrom the seed chute to the seed tube and towards the furrow.
 12. Theagricultural implement of claim 1, wherein each of the row units furthercomprise a seed shoe.
 13. The agricultural implement of claim 1, furthercomprising an air seed delivery system to deliver seed from the seedsource to each of the plurality of row units.
 14. The agriculturalimplement of claim 1, wherein the seed drill metering member driven byan electric motor.
 15. A method of planting seed with a seed drill,comprising: transferring seed from a seed source to a plurality of seedmeters positioned along the length of the toolbar, the seed meterselectrically driven and including a housing and a seed sensor thatmonitors the movement of seeds dispensed by the seed meter; metering theseed via the seed meters to control an amount of seed that is dispensedby the seed meters; and dispensing the seed.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein metering the seed controls a volume, spacing, and/or location ofthe metered seed.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step oftransferring the seed comprises communicating the seed from a seed cart.18. The method of claim 15, further comprising singulating the seed inthe seed meters with a singulator.
 19. An agricultural plantingimplement, comprising: at least one toolbar; a plurality of seed meterspositioned along the length of the at least one toolbar, the seed meterselectrically driven and including a housing and a seed sensor thatmonitors the movement of seeds dispensed by the seed meter; and a seedcart in fluid connection with each of the plurality of seed meters,wherein the seed cart provides an on-demand supply of seed to be plantedby each of the seed meters.
 20. The agricultural planting implement ofclaim 19, wherein the seed meters comprise: a. a brush meter; b. avacuum meter; c. a positive pressure meter; or d. a finger meter.